I agree with the idea that Apple is not measuring their success by their overall market share in smartphones. This articles makes a pedantic point.
The interesting point that it misses is how Siri might revolutionize the integration of smartphones with other consumer devices.
Perhaps Siri is the next iTunes? It's really not about the handset, and never was with Apple.

This article completely misses the point. RIM could release a phone with a 1600*1200 display, foldable, virtual keyboard, 8 core processor, etc. and it would make not an iota of difference in the market share. IPHONE and Apple finally made it not about the hardware but about the platform and ecosystem.
Unless you are tethering to a big display device, etc. do you really need LTE speeds? I mean really, is 7-14mbps of 3G too slow? I recently downgraded my internet at home to save money ... and I only have a 5mbps link now. I am a techy and frankly, it is never really an issue.
What matters more and more to the majority of buyers is what their phone can do for them and how easily and seamlessly it does that. In that regard, Apple is king. Everything just works and works well. 95% of people do not have time to fight with their phone to get it to work.
And just like there is Dell, HP, ACER, Toshiba, Sony, etc. on the PC space, Samsung is but one player in the Android space. Samsung is a company that has no clue about user experience when it comes to software. Have you ever tried one of their windows based software programs that comes with their phones? It is absolutely brutal. They should be embarrassed. They just don't get it.

Thanks for you post! Apple is perhaps following the best path for them by staying at high end. Market share is not everything. In fact it could have the beneficial affect of giving the Apple brand even more cachet as iphones become less common.more info at: http://www.top-shoppingmall.com/security-systems-1.htm

The only thing I would say is that iPhone syncs contacts to windows address book which any other smart phone should now be able to sync with, but certainly the windows mobiles would. Also calendars sync with Outlook under windows which windows mobiles would too, and maybe (anyone know) Android too? That only leaves apps, which depending on what ones you use, for a few dollars you could easily replace. Now with that said I have an iPhone 3GS and would upgrade to an iPhone 4GS if I needed to because of the user experience you mentioned. They seem to just work (unless you're a iPhone 4 without a skin) where as I hear some issues with the much awarded Samsung, and I just don't want to go through those issues again.

Quick disclaimer...I am not an Apple fanboy but I do have an iPad2 and an iPhone4. Everyone needs to understand that there's more to Apple's success than hardware specifications. First off, there are a number of misconceptions. Apple does indeed cover the low-end to mid-end market with the "free" 3GS and the $100 iPhone 4. Sure the iPhone4 is not a low end device but the price is certainly in that range.
Second, iPhones/iPads/Macs are not just fashion statements. The best example is when my Mom picked up my iPad2 to play her favorite slot machine app (I loaded it once for her a while back). She asked "how do I start the game?" I responded in a nice way "Figure it out yourself!" And SHE DID. She looked at the iPad2 and saw that there was only 1 button on the front. She pressed it and the screen turned on to show the little slider. She then swiped at the slider to unlock the screen and then she swiped through the screens to find her favorite slot machine game. THAT says it all right there about the user experience with Apple products (and more specifically iOS). My Mom would make a great Apple spokesperson just from that experience alone.
Another thing to remember is the Apple ecosystem. When my iPhone4 contract runs out I won't hesitate to get the next iPhone...why? Because I will have accumulated 3 years worth of contacts, apps, notes, reminders, calendars, game data etc. etc. And ALL OF IT will instantly be moved over to the new phone. That is probably one big reason why the iPhone4S is already a record breaker...people upgrading their older iPhones because of expired contracts. My coworker ordered a 4S because the contract on his 3GS expired. He did not even consider anything else because of all of the stuff he has accumulated on his iPhone.

Beginning of the End?
There is no such thing. People are and will continue to be innovative. I believe Apple will continue to innovate. If not, then others will.
Isn't that what they said about Newtonian physics .. and then Relativity and Quantum Physics turned the whole physics world upside down.
Never say it's the end when it comes to technology or science. History has proven there is no end..